Improved pipe-tongs



' the'statiouary one.

JOEL MOULTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED PIPETONGS.

Specification forming part ofLetters Patent No. 52,0455, dated January16, 1866.

To all whom it 91mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL MOULTON, of Boston, in the county ot' Suffolkand State ot' Massachusetts, have invented an Improved lipe- Tongs 0rlVreneh; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connectionwith thedrawing which accompanies and forms part of this specification,is a description of my invention sutlcient to enable those skilled inthe art to practice it.

rlhe invention relates to the construction of tongs and wrenches i'orgrasping and turning metal pipe or other articles.

The shank ofthe movable jaw is made to slide looselyr -with respect tothe stationary jaw, and isheld in place to grasp the pipe or otherarticle to be seized by a lever or handle extending from the shank ofthe iixedjaw and vturning on a lulcrum-pin, one ace ot this leveropposite the fuleruin being made eccen.

tric to the pin,-a.nd in such manner that when the handle is turnedoutward from the handle ofthe movable jaw said movable jaw may slidefreely, while, when it is brought up to the handle ot' the movable jaw,the eccentric face bites upon and holds the shank ofthe iuovablejaw infixed position with respect to lt is in this construction thattheinvention consists.

A tongs or wrench embodying the invention is shown in the drawing, theparts being broken to clearly show the construction.

a denotes the fixed jaw; b, the slidingjaw, having a pin, c, whichslides in a slot, d, in the shank c ofthe lixedjaw, and a shank, j',which slides in a yoke, f/, projecting from the shank c, the yoke andpin keeping the movablejaw laterally in position with respect to thejawa. Atthe lower end ot' the shank c is a fulcrlun-piu, li, upon which ishung the lever-handle i', this` handle turning freely upon the pin, andhaving a' griping-face, k, Aformed eeeentrically to its fulcruun and insuch manner that when tliehandle i is turned out from the-handle ol' themovable jaw, as Seel, by the red lines, the shank fand the mon hie jawmay slide freely, while by carrycarried outward-and the movable jaw slidto-` ward the pipe or other article to be held until both'jaws restagainst it. rlhe lever is then carried toward the handle l, when thearticle Uwillb evgrasywd or held, as will be readilymunK- m derstood.WVhile, however, this hold will be sufficient to turn a nut, the graspwould not always be tight enough to hold a pipe tirmly enough to turnthe same. The shank f may therefore be provided with a series ot teeth,into which teeth upon the lever shall mesh as they are brought intoeontaet,in such manner as to carry the movable jaw toward thestationaryjaw by bringing together the handles, so that when thejawsarebrought against the opposite surfaces ofthe article by slidingthey shallnot only be held against such surfaces by bringing the handles together,but shall be made to pinch or bite upon the article with increasingforceby tightening the grasp upon the handles. By loosening the grasp alittle the ljaws may then be allowed to slip round -uponthe pipe to takea fresh hold, to turn the same, as will be readily understood.

- I claiin- The construction of the tongs or wrench with the lixed jawand shank e, sliding shank f, and lever '27, having a griping-face, andoperating substantiallyv as set forth.

1n witness whereot I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofNovember, A. D.,

JOEL MOULTON.

Witnesses:

S. B. KIDDER, F. GOULD.

